Today’s video is special as we are giving you the chance to enjoy in its entirety (over 31 minutes) one of Japan's most famous Iwami Kagura plays : Orochi! Literally meaning “Entertaining the gods” Kagura is a sacred Japanese dance and music ritual dedicated to the gods of Shinto […]
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Ushibuka Haiya Odori is one of Japan's most famous festivals. It began around 200 years ago in the once rich port of Ushibuka. What is unique about the Ushibuka Haiya Odori, it’s said to be the root of all “Awa Odori” and “Haiya” folk music heard all over Japan! [...]
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What used to be a necessity of the past: transporting logs down from the Wakayama gorgeous forests and mountains. Kitayama log rafting is now thrilled oriented experience mixing tradition and fun. [...]
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It is said that the Nagahama Hikiyama Matsuri (festival) started over 400 years ago in order to celebrate the birth of the son of Hideyoshi Toyotomi a local warlord. Ever since locals in Nagahama city have worked hard to maintain this massive gorgeous Hikiyama floats as a matter […]
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There are hundreds of types of traditional dances in Japan, and Awa Odori is one of the best-known ones. Originated in Tokushima, it is now enjoyed and danced hundreds of thousands of performers across Japan. [...]
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Bon Odori is a Japanese traditional folkloric dance. Bon Odori, which has a history of approximately 1,000 years. Actually, this Folkloric dance is for worshiping ancestors in the “Bon season” (July-August) derived from Buddhism, and there are more than 1,000 different types of dance nationwide in Japan [...]
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Every second Sunday in March, the Takaosan Yakuoin Buddhist temple holds a unique fire-walking festival known as the Hiwatari-Sai Matsuri where Yamabushi monks display the depth of their faith and asceticism by walking barefoot over smoldering coals, the remains of the matsuri sacred fire.
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Used for centuries by local fisherman living on the Ogi Peninsula, Hangiri are simple washtub boats made of cedar and bamboo grown on Sado Island. While Hangiri are no longer used by fisherman, it is still possible to enjoy a little “Hangiri” ride at different locations around Sado Island! [..]
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One of Sado Island’s attractions, besides its many beautiful temples and it’s gorgeous landscape, is the many Noh (Japanese traditional play) that are actually performed by local villagers in some of the many temples of the Island. Here unlike many other places in Japan […]
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Also known as Chichibu Yomatsuri, the Chichibu Night Festival is the festival of the Chichibu Shrine in Chichibu. It’s just over 150 km away from central Tokyo and is considered as one of Japan’s top three festivals to feature both majestic floats and fireworks. [...]
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Essential to Japanese cuisine, shoyu, or soy sauce originated from the city of Yuasa in Wakayama. Legend has it that in the 13th century, the Zen Buddhist monk Shinichi Kakushin discovered the wonders of soy sauce totally by accident while making kinzanji miso, a type of bean paste. [...]
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Located in the city of Sakkai in Osaka prefecture, JIKKO Kitchen Knives Cutlery is one of the best and most famous companies for anyone looking for the finest Japanese cutlery. JIKKO started relatively recently in 1901. Sakkai has been known for the past 600 years for its knife craftwork […]
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